
Innovation Award for Rivian Hinge Pillar
Comptech AB won the METEF Innovation Award and NADCA Casting of the Year 2022 for the Rivian hinge pillar, made with AlSi7Mg alloy using Rheocasting. This method avoids the high die wear typical in HPDC and delivers outstanding mechanical properties with a high solid fraction of 35-45%, achieving 170 MPa yield strength, 250 MPa ultimate tensile strength, and 10% elongation. The hinge pillar design reduces projected area by 50%, allowing smaller machine use, saving energy, and lowering hourly rates. Using the secondary alloy eccomelt356.2, the carbon footprint is minimized to 1.1 kg CO2 per kg Al, significantly less than the global average.